Public trusts could still play a part in the future of some of Ilkley’s best-loved buildings, a councillor has said.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, leader of the opposition Conservative group on Bradford Council, says the trusts could still be beneficial, although the futures of the King’s Hall and Winter Gardens appear secure in the short term.

Coun Hawkesworth said she felt there was never any danger over the future of the King’s Hall in recent cost-cutting measures, but insisted people need to think about the long-term status of the popular venue.

“There will have to be new ways of working looked into,” she said.

“If things get into a different state of mind, it might be advantageous for things like community trusts to be formed.”

Coun Hawkesworth said it is not just the King’s Hall, which could gain an advantage from being run by a public trust. “I think the trust side of things would be to the advantage of people,” she said.

“In Addingham I know they’re at the point where they’ve got enough volunteers to run the library and the same thing could happen to the Manor House in Ilkley.”

But her comments come as Ilkley Parish Council has refused to grant thousands of pounds to the Friends of the King’s Hall for the second time.

Early in February, councillors voted against an application from the Friends for £7,000, saying they needed to know if the halls’ future was secure.

Despite gaining those assurances, this week councillors voted against handing £5,000 to the Friends as they do not have enough money left in their grants and awards budget.

Councillors also voted against dipping into general reserves.

Councillors Andrew Wallbank, Mike Gibbons and Pauline Dixon voted to hand over the money, Kathy Best, Alan Morrell, Kate Brown and Dawn Emsley voted against. Andrew McKie, Heathcliffe Bowen and chairman Brian Mann abstained.

Coun Hawkesworth abstained.